Device for Dispensing Artificial Eyelashes Comprising an Element for Holding the Eyelashes

ABSTRACT

A device  1  for dispensing artificial eyelashes has a holding element  123  and a housing  10.  The housing  10  is provided with a dispensing opening  11  which allows artificial eyelashes  41  to be output to an external space of the housing  10.  The holding element  123  has a flexible material and is designed to be arranged in the region of the dispensing opening  11  so as to facilitate holding the eyelashes  41.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to French Patent Application No.1556539 filed Jul. 9, 2015. The present application claims priority toand the benefit the above-identified application, which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The invention relates to the technical field of artificial eyelashesdispensers. The invention relates in particular to a device fordispensing artificial eyelashes comprising an element for holding theeyelashes.

BACKGROUND

Artificial eyelashes dispensers are known which comprise a housing and amovement mechanism allowing artificial eyelashes to be output through adispensing opening of the housing. Some of these dispensers are equippedwith walls which can be clamped against one another in the manner oftweezers. This clamping makes it possible to hold the eyelashes, andthis facilitates the use of the device when applying artificialeyelashes.

During this clamping, the eyelashes are sometimes held in aninsufficient manner or in a position and/or orientation which isinadequate for applying these artificial eyelashes. There is thus a needto improve these devices for dispensing artificial eyelashes. One of theobjects of the invention is to propose such an improvement.

SUMMARY

A device for dispensing artificial eyelashes, comprising a holdingelement and a housing, said housing being provided with a dispensingopening which allows artificial eyelashes to be output to an externalspace of the housing, the holding element comprising a flexible materialand being designed to be arranged in the region of the dispensingopening so as to facilitate holding the eyelashes.

In this way, the flexible material that the holding element is made ofmakes it easier to hold the eyelashes whilst preventing anydeterioration or deformation of the artificial eyelashes. The comfortand the ease of use of the device are thus improved.

According to different embodiments, which can be taken together orseparately:

-   -   walls of the housing which are located on either side of the        dispensing opening are designed to be able to be clamped against        one another, in the manner of tweezers, so as to hold one or        more of said eyelashes between said walls,    -   at least one of the walls is equipped with said holding element,        said holding element being intended to be in contact with said        eyelashes during the clamping of the walls against one another,    -   said holding element is located at a free end of said wall,    -   said holding element is a strip of material,    -   said holding element comprises an elastically deformable        material,    -   said holding element comprises a spongy material,    -   the housing and the holding element are produced from different        materials,    -   the device comprises a movement mechanism which can be actuated        in order to cause the artificial eyelashes to be fed to an        external space of the housing,    -   the device comprises a carrier strip to which the artificial        eyelashes are fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, aims and advantages of the invention will become clearerfrom the following description, which is given by way of purelyillustrative and non-limiting example, and which must be read withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a device for dispensing artificial eyelashesaccording to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device from FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front view of a device for dispensing artificial eyelashesaccording to another embodiment of the invention, shown with thetweezers thereof in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the device from FIG. 3, shown with thetweezers thereof in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, aspects of the invention relates to a device fordispensing artificial eyelashes.

Said device 1 comprises a housing 10, preferably made of plasticsmaterial such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) or polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), Surlyn®resin or polyoxymethylene (POM). The housing can also be made of metal,such as aluminium, Zamak, etc.

Said housing 10 can be opaque or, on the contrary, transparent so thatthe elements that it contains are visible, in particular at leastpartially according to one embodiment which will be elaborated on below.

According to one embodiment, the housing 10 consists of a peripheralcontour 350 and two side walls 310, 320 delimiting an interior of thehousing 10. Said peripheral contour 350 connects the two side walls 310,320 which are substantially planar, the same shape and in parallel withone another. One of the side walls, referred to as the base 310, and theperipheral contour 350 are advantageously made of material, saidperipheral contour 350 being arranged along a periphery of said base310. The other of the side walls, referred to as the cover 320, can beused as a cover for the rest of the housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 is provided with a dispensing opening11, through which the eyelashes 41 are output to be used by anindividual. Said device also comprises, inside the housing 10, a carrierstrip 30, which is shown as a dotted line, to which the eyelashes 41 arefixed, and a movement mechanism which can be actuated to cause amovement of the strip 30 in order to feed the eyelashes 41 towards thedispensing opening 11. Said device is thus designed to facilitate theoutput of the artificial eyelashes 41 through the dispensing opening 11,as a result of the movement of the strip 30.

On the strip 30, the eyelashes are preferably grouped in the form ofunits 40 of eyelashes, which can be seen in FIG. 3.

The units are preferably fixed to the strip 30 by an adhesive coating onthe strip, the coating having properties which are suitable for allowingdetachment from the dispensing units 40 without damaging the eyelashes41.

Each unit 40 of eyelashes can comprise a fringe of eyelashes 41 and aconnecting strip 42. The eyelashes are interconnected at one end,preferably the base thereof, by the connecting strip 42, the other endbeing free.

The artificial eyelashes 41 and the connecting strip 42 are producedfrom synthetic fibres, which are typically made of polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT) and PVC, and are rigidly connected to the connectingstrip 42 by any known method, for example they can be adhered to orintegrally formed with the connecting strip. They can also be sewn tothe connecting strip or welded thereto.

Advantageously, the strip 30 has a plurality of separated adhesiveregions, said regions being for example covered by an adhesive coating,the rest of the strip not being adhesive.

The dispensing units 40 are advantageously adhered to said regions, inthe region of the middle of the eyelashes in the direction of the lengththereof, so as to adhere neither the ends of the eyelashes nor theconnecting strip, the artificial eyelashes having in this case, likenatural eyelashes, an intrinsic curvature. For example, if the eyelasheshave a length of 10 mm, the units of eyelashes can be adhesively appliedto a strip of 5 mm which is centred on half of the length of theeyelashes.

This has multiple advantages: the ends of the eyelashes are heldseparately from one another in such a way that the appearance of theeyelashes is not impaired once they are in place on a user. The adhesiveresidue on the units of eyelashes is reduced with respect to completeapplication of adhesive to the eyelashes, and in particular, each freeeyelash end is not adhered to the adjacent eyelash. The aesthetics ofthe units of eyelashes is thus preserved.

Lastly, due to the eyelashes being held on the strip by the middle ofthe length thereof, the ends of said eyelashes protrude less than oneend would if the eyelashes were fixed to the strip at the other endthereof.

In other words, there is a height H between the end of the eyelashes ofa unit and the strip 30 which is reduced with respect to the same heightH′ if the units of eyelashes were adhered to the strip 30 in the regionof the connecting strip.

As a result, the ends of the eyelashes are not in contact with a wall ofa housing 10 when the eyelashes are moved in the dispenser, and saideyelashes can thus be moved freely in the dispenser.

The units 40 of eyelashes are preferably fixed to the carrier strip 30in such a way that the eyelashes are oriented in parallel with thelongitudinal direction of the carrier strip 30, the connecting strip 42then being transverse to said direction. In a variant, the eyelashes canbe oriented in a transverse, in particular orthogonal manner.

Furthermore, the units 40 of eyelashes are preferably distributedregularly over the carrier strip 30, in such a way that they are spacedby a constant interval between two consecutive units. Typically, thisinterval can be between 5 and 20 mm.

Typically, the eyelashes 41 have a length L of between 8 and 15 mm,preferably equal to 10 mm.

With regard to the units 40 of eyelashes, they have a width w of between3 and 10 mm, preferably of between 4 and 5 mm. This width is narrowerthan the units of eyelashes which are traditionally sold on the market.It is thus necessary to apply a plurality of units 40 of eyelashes tothe eyelid to cover the total width of the user's eyelid.

In the case of eyelashes which are oriented in parallel with the strip30, the reduction of the width w of the units 40 of eyelashes makes itpossible to reduce the width of the carrier strip 30 to which the unitsare fixed, and consequently the volume occupied by the dispensing device1.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the movement mechanism comprises a reel 20,which is mounted so as to be able to rotate in relation to the housing10. A first longitudinal end of the carrier strip 30 is fixed to thereel, and a portion 31 of the strip, to which the units of artificialeyelashes to be dispensed are fixed, is wound around the reel. The reel20 is thus positioned upstream of the dispensing opening 11, and caneven form the start of the route of the strip.

The portion 31 of strip which is wound around the reel forms a stock ofunits of eyelashes 40. More particularly, the size of the device 1 canmake it possible to wind several metres of carrier strip 30, for examplebetween 0.5 and 2 metres of strips, and this makes it possible to storebetween 20 and 180 units of artificial eyelashes. This allows a user tohave approximately 10 to 30 days' worth of artificial eyelashes.

The length of strip to be wound around the reel and the diameter of thecircular cross section thereof have to be adapted so that the winding ofthe strip around the reel does not impair the curvature radius of theeyelashes, once they have been dispensed, too significantly. Forexample, if the diameter of the circular cross section of the reel istoo small, the eyelashes which are located on the strip portion which isclosest to the outer surface of the reel will have too large a curvatureradius.

Thus, the diameter of the circular cross section of the reel is between5 and 12 mm. Furthermore, the winding of the strip forms a cylinderaround the reel, the diameter of which increases progressively with thelength of wound strip. If the length of wound strip is too large, thediameter of the cylinder thus formed will be large, and the curvatureradius of the eyelashes which are fixed to the strip at the periphery ofthe winding will be too small.

The length of strip winding indicated above takes this effect intoaccount. The diameter of the cross section of the cylinder which isformed by the strip wound around the reel can have a diameter of 30 mmat most. The dispensing device 1 thus makes it possible to store aconsiderable number of units of artificial eyelashes, unlike inconventional housings, and to store them in a very compact manner, bywinding the strip around the reel.

The reel 20 takes the form of a cylinder having a circular crosssection, the cylinder being able to move in rotation about the axis ofrevolution thereof, and having a length which is greater than or equalto the width of the carrier strip 30. This makes it possible for thecarrier strip 30 to bear against the outer surface of the cylinder 20.

The reel can be made of the same material as the housing 10.

The movement system of the carrier strip 30 further comprises a spool21, which is mounted so as to be able to rotate in relation to thehousing 10. The spool 21 is located downstream in relation to thedispensing opening 11 over the route of the strip.

The second longitudinal end of the carrier strip 30 which is not fixedto the reel is fixed to the spool 21, and a portion 33 of the strip,from which the units of eyelashes have been removed, is wound around thespool.

In a similar manner to the reel 20, the spool 21 takes the form of acylinder having a circular cross section, the cylinder being able tomove in rotation about the axis of revolution thereof, and having alength which is greater than or equal to the width of the carrier strip30. This makes it possible for the carrier strip 30 to bear against theouter surface of the spool 21.

The spool 21 can be made of the same material as the housing 10.

The reel 20 and/or the spool 21 can comprise lateral flanges which makeit possible to guide said strip 30.

Hinge pins 360, 361 of the reel 20 and of the spool 21 respectively stemfrom the base 310. In particular, the reel 20 and the spool 21 aremounted so as to be able to rotate about the respective hinge pinsthereof, inside the housing 10.

An intermediate portion 32 of the carrier strip 30, which is locatedbetween the portion 31 which is wound around the reel 20, and theportion 33 which is wound around the spool 21, passes close to thedispensing opening 11.

Said portion 32 rests against a return element 24, in this case in theform of an end of a rib 25 for guiding said strip 30. Said returnelement 24 is arranged close to the dispensing opening 11, that is tosay at a distance from the dispensing opening which is less than thelength of an eyelash. In FIG. 2, a single unit of eyelashes has beenshown so as not to overcomplicate the drawing.

The carrier strip 30 is held by the return element, and moves aroundsaid element whilst changing direction in the route thereof between thereel 20 and the spool 21.

The position of the return element 24 and the diameter thereof areadapted so that, whilst the carrier strip 30 moves around the element24, the unit 40 of eyelashes partially detaches from the carrier strip30 and is output from the device 1 through the dispensing opening.

For example, a direction of the carrier strip which is upstream of thereturn element and a direction of the carrier strip which is downstreamof the return element are selected so as to promote this detachment.

The radius of the return element 24 is selected in such a way that theouter surface thereof has a curvature radius of between 0.5 and 40 mm,so that when the strip moves around the return element whilst restingagainst said outer surface, it takes on the same curvature radius.

Furthermore, the units 40 of eyelashes are arranged on the strip in sucha way that the natural curvature of the eyelashes are the opposite ofthe curvature taken on by the carrier strip 30 when said strip movesaround the return element 24.

Thus, when the strip reaches the return element and changes direction bypivoting about said element, the end of the unit 40 which is locateddownstream detaches from the strip 30, and is output through thedispensing opening 11.

The dispensing units 40 are preferably arranged on the carrier strip insuch a way that, during the movement of the carrier strip towards thedispensing opening, the connecting strips 42 of the eyelashes 41 are fedfirst towards the dispensing opening.

As a result, it is the connecting strip 42 which is detached from thecarrier strip 30 and which is output from the device through thedispensing opening 11. By contrast, the free end of the eyelashesremains adhered to the strip.

When the strip is in this position, the user can apply adhesive to theconnecting strip 42 before manually removing the unit from the device 1.During this step of applying adhesive, the unit 40 is thus held on thecarrier strip 30 by the free end of the eyelashes, and the user does nothave to hold the eyelashes by hand. As a result, there is a reduced riskof damaging the artificial eyelashes when applying adhesive.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the handling of the unit 40 ofeyelashes for the purpose of the application of adhesive to and theplacement of said eyelashes, the edges of the dispensing opening 11provided in the housing 10 are preferably in the shape of tweezers, aswill be elaborated on below.

Furthermore, the position of the reel 20 in relation to the dispensingopening 11 can be defined in a non-limiting manner in such a way thatthe length of the carrier strip 30 between the reel 20 and thedispensing opening 11 comprises enough units of eyelashes 40 to cover aneye or both eyes so that the units of eyelashes 40 placed on the sameeye or both eyes have the same curvature.

By way of non-limiting example, the following parameters are considered:

-   -   on the carrier strip 30, there is a spacing of 5 mm between two        consecutive units of eyelashes 40,    -   the units of eyelashes 40 have a width w of 5 mm, in such a way        that three units of artificial eyelashes are required to cover        an eyelid,    -   the eyelashes have a length L which is equal to 10 mm.

In this case, in order for the portion of the carrier strip 30 which isheld between the reel and the dispensing opening 11 to comprise enoughunits of eyelashes 40 for both eyes, i.e. six units of eyelashes, thedistance between the reel and the return element must be greater than orequal to 90 mm. This distance is reduced to 45 mm so that said portionof the carrier strip 30 comprises enough units of eyelashes for a singleeye.

In operation, the portion of the carrier strip 30 which is locateddownstream of the return element 24 no longer supports units ofeyelashes because said units have been removed through the dispensingopening. Said carrier strip portion is fed as far as the spool 21.

In this case, the mechanism for moving the carrier strip 30 furthercomprises a means 23 for moving the spool 21 in rotation, which makes itpossible to wind the carrier strip 30 around the spool 21, the windingof the carrier strip 30 around the spool 21 causing, as mentionedpreviously, the movement of the carrier strip 30 in order to dispensethe eyelashes 41.

Advantageously, the housing 10 comprises an opening 12, and theactuating means 23 comprises an adjustment wheel which can be operatedthrough the opening 12.

Said device is designed so that manual operation of the adjustment wheel23 in one direction towards the dispensing opening 11 from an oppositeportion 100 of the housing 10 causes the movement of the carrier strip30 in order to dispense the eyelashes 41. In other words, in FIG. 2, inwhich the dispensing opening 11 is located on the left, the adjustmentwheel 23 must be operated in the clockwise direction in order to allowthe strip 30 to be unwound. The unwinding thus takes place as a resultof a movement which corresponds to a movement of pressing on theeyelashes, which is intuitive to the user.

The adjustment wheel 23 can comprise a knurled wheel which protrudesfrom the housing 10 through the opening 12. The spool 21 is, forexample, coaxial with and rigidly connected to said adjustment wheel 23.In this way, it is possible to move the strip 30 forwards by rotatingthe adjustment wheel.

The knurled wheel of the adjustment wheel 23 advantageously has an outerperipheral surface which is provided with ridges. Said peripheralsurface is intended to be handled by the user in order to operate theadjustment wheel 23. As mentioned previously, the knurled wheel isarranged so as to protrude from the housing 10 through the opening 11,in particular when the tweezers are open. As a result, the user can movethe eyelashes 41 forwards towards the dispensing opening 11 by handlingthe adjustment wheel 23.

More specifically, the rotation of the adjustment wheel 23 causes therotation of the spool 21 and the winding of the carrier strip 30 aroundthe spool. This winding causes the movement of the portion of carrierstrip 30 extending between the reel 20 and the spool 21, and as aresult, the feeding of the units of eyelashes 40 towards the dispensingopening, accompanied by the phenomenon of the detachment of theeyelashes in the region of the dispensing opening mentioned above. Thismovement causes the unwinding of the carrier strip from the reel 20.

It is further possible to provide a mechanism for locking the adjustmentwheel 23 in one direction of rotation, in such a way that the usercannot rotate said wheel in the direction for unwinding the spool 21.

Said device can further comprise a rotary bearing 106 for guiding thestrip. Said bearing 106 can rotate freely, for example, about a fingerwhich is rigidly connected to, in particular is moulded to, the base310.

As has already been indicated, walls 120, 122 of the housing which arelocated on either side of the dispensing opening 11 can be designed tobe able to be clamped against one another in the manner of tweezers, soas to hold one or more of said eyelashes 41 between said walls 120, 122.

One 120 of said walls is stationary, and the other 122, referred to asthe movable arm of the tweezers, is hinged, in particular in such a waythat it can pivot about an pin 125, in relation to the rest of thehousing 10.

In this case, the stationary wall 120 is formed from a portion of theperipheral contour 350, and the movable arm 122 is located in an openingin the housing 10 which is located in a portion of the peripheralcontour 350 which is opposite the fixed wall 120. In other words, thestationary wall 120 and the movable arm 122 are substantially oppositeone another. In other words again, in order to fix the eyelashes 41 inplace, the user operates the movable arm 122 so as to pin the eyelashesagainst the stationary wall 120.

Each of the stationary 120 and movable 122 walls is provided with adistal end. The distal ends of said walls are opposite one another inthe region of the dispensing opening 11.

According to one aspect of the invention, which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2,3 and 4, said movable arm 122 is provided at the distal end thereof witha holding element 123 which allows plane-to-plane contact on thestationary wall 120 so as to improve holding and clamping of theeyelashes 41.

Said holding element 123 is intended to be in contact with saideyelashes 41 during the clamping of the walls 120, 122 against oneanother. In particular, the holding element 123 is designed to be incontact with said eyelashes 41 when the movable arm 122 and thestationary wall 120 are clamped against one another.

The holding element 123 is advantageously a strip of material whichextends orthogonally to a direction in which the eyelashes 41 are outputthrough the dispensing opening 11.

Alternatively, in one embodiment which is not shown in the drawings,said holding element 123 can be arranged not on the movable arm 122, butunder the stationary wall 120, at a free end thereof. In other words,the stationary wall 120 can be equipped with said holding element 123.Advantageously, in this embodiment, said holding element 123 can bearranged in contact with the stationary wall 120 in the region of thedispensing opening 11, so as to be opposite the distal end of themovable arm 122.

Alternatively again, in one embodiment which is not shown in thedrawings, the dispensing device 1 comprises two holding elements 123,each of the stationary 120 and movable 122 walls being equipped with oneof the two holding elements 123.

According to an aspect of the invention, the holding element 123 is madeof a flexible material, the flexibility of said material facilitatingthe holding of the eyelashes 41. In other words, the holding element 123is a compressible or elastically deformable material. Said holdingelement 123 will be for example, in a non-limiting manner, made of aspongy-type material, in particular a sponge. Alternatively, saidholding element 123 can be made of rubber or latex, or else any othermaterial having similar properties in terms of flexibility andresilience.

Advantageously, said holding element 123 and said housing 10 areelements which are separate from one another. In particular, saidholding element 123 and the housing 10 are made of materials havingdifferent properties. In particular, said holding element 123 and thehousing 10 can differ from one another in terms of the flexibilitythereof. Advantageously, the material of which the holding element 123is made is more flexible than the material of which the housing 10 ismade.

Said holding element 123 can be rigidly connected to the housing 10, inparticular to the movable arm 122, by adhesion. Said holding element 123will advantageously be arranged at the free end of the movable arm 122so as to from an extension thereof and/or protrude therefrom.

Alternatively, the holding element 123 can be overmoulded on the housing10. Alternatively again, said holding element 123 can be rigidlyconnected to either the movable arm 122 or the stationary wall 120 bymeans of a snap-in connection and/or by any other suitable fixing means.

It will be noted that the holding element 123 can advantageously be inthe form of and act as a lip, i.e. as a flat edge which is intended tohold the eyelashes 41 by pressing said eyelashes against the other ofthe two walls 120, 122.

More generally, said holding element 123 comprises a flexible materialand is designed to be arranged in the region of the dispensing opening11 so as to facilitate holding the eyelashes 41.

It will also be noted that the holding element 123 makes it possible toimprove the alignment of the artificial eyelashes 41 with respect to oneanother and/or relative to a direction in which the eyelashes 41 areoutput through the dispensing opening 11.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable arm 122 can be designedto block the feeding of the eyelashes 41 towards the dispensing opening11 when the tweezers are closed. For this purpose, when the movable arm122 is in the closed position, the portion of the movable arm 122 whichis located between the pin 125 and the lug 130 can be designed to hide aside of the knurled wheel. Said side of the knurled wheel and a portionof the movable arm 122 are thus opposite one another. In this design,the adjustment wheel 23 is thus difficult to operate because the ridgesin the knurled wheel, which are used for the handling thereof, are thenless accessible.

In other words, in the closed position, the movable arm 122 laterallycovers a side of the adjustment wheel 23 in such a way that the knurledwheel no longer protrudes from the housing 10. It thus becomes difficultfor the user to handle the knurled wheel 23. In particular, the handlingof the outer peripheral surface, in the region of which the ridges ofthe knurled wheel are located, is impaired by the presence, nearby, of aportion of the movable arm 122.

Conversely, as shown in FIG. 4, in the open position, the same portionof the movable arm 122 is retracted into the housing 10.

In this way, the movable arm 122 is designed, in the closed position, toprevent the eyelashes 41 from being fed towards the dispensing opening11 by handling the adjustment wheel 23.

In order to allow the movable arm 122 to be hinged, the devicecomprises, for example, a hinge pin which is rigidly connected to thehousing.

Said device can further comprise a spring leaf 126 which exerts a forceon said movable arm 122 so as to hold it in an open position of thetweezers. Said spring leaf 126 exerts the force thereof, for example, ona portion of the movable arm 122 which is located between the pivot pin125 thereof and the distal end thereof.

Said movable arm 122 can further be designed to be held by means of asnap-in connection on the housing 10 in a closed position of saidtweezers. In this case, said movable arm 122 comprises for this purposeone or more flexible lugs 130, which are intended to cooperate with acomplementary shape 132 which is rigidly connected to the housing 10.Said flexible lugs are located at an end of the movable arm 122 which isopposite the end on which said spring leaf acts. In order to unlock thetweezers, so as to allow them to return to the open position, the useracts on the movable arm 122, on the portion thereof which is locatedbetween said hinge pin 125 and said flexible lugs 130.

Said housing 10 can comprise a stop for positioning 170 said flexiblelugs 130 in the open position of the tweezers. Said positioning stop cancomprise a portion, in particular an end of the guide rib 25 which isopposite the end which is located in the vicinity of the dispensingopening 11.

Said spool 21 can be located in the housing 10 to the right of theportion of said movable arm 122 which is located between the pivot pin125 thereof and the end which is opposite the distal end 123, i.e., inthis case, the end comprising the flexible snap-in lugs 130.

Said movable arm 122 can further comprise a handling protrusion 134 forpassing from the open position to the closed position. In this case,said protrusion is located between the pivot pin 125 of said movable armand the distal end 123 thereof, in particular between said pivot pin 125of said movable arm and an actuation region of said spring leaf 126.

As mentioned above, it will be noted that the passage from the closedposition to the open position of the tweezers is caused by the useracting on the portion of the movable arm 122 which is located betweenthe pin 125 and the flexible lug 130. The rotation in the oppositedirection of the movable arm 122, from an open position to a closedposition is, itself, caused by the user acting on the portion of themovable arm 122 which is located between the pin 125 and the holdingelement 123.

The carrier strip 30 can, alternatively, be a thread.

1. A device for dispensing artificial eyelashes, comprising a holdingelement and a housing, said housing being provided with a dispensingopening which allows artificial eyelashes to be output to an externalspace of the housing, the holding element comprising a flexible materialand being designed to be arranged in the region of the dispensingopening so as to facilitate holding the eyelashes.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the walls of the housing which are locatedon either side of the dispensing opening are designed to be able to beclamped against one another, in the manner of tweezers, so as to holdone or more of said eyelashes between said walls.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein at least one of the walls is equipped withsaid holding element, said holding element being intended to be incontact with said eyelashes during the clamping of the walls against oneanother.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said holdingelement is located at a free end of said wall.
 5. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said holding element is a strip of material.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said holding element comprises anelastically deformable material.
 7. The device according to claim 1,wherein said holding element comprises a spongy material.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing (10) and the holding elementare produced from different materials.
 9. The device according to claim1, comprising a movement mechanism which can be actuated in order tocause the artificial eyelashes to be fed to an external space of thehousing.
 10. The device according to claim 1, comprising a carrier stripto which the artificial eyelashes are fixed.